Sutera plant named ‘Balmecoplum’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named ‘Balmecoplum’, characterized by its dark purple-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and a mounded-trailing growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Sutera cordata.

Variety denomination: ‘Balmecoplum’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant botanically known as Sutera cordata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balmecoplum’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, California during April 2017. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Sutera cultivars that have large-sized flowers and a mounded-trailing growth habit suitable for hanging basket, and container use.

The new Sutera cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection coded SUT-1039-004, not patented, characterized by its medium pink-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and mounded-trailing growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection coded SUT-0906-001, not patented, characterized by its medium violet-blue colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and mounded-trailing growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2018 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, California.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2018 in Arroyo Grande, California and West Chicago, Illinois has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balmecoplum’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant:

-   -   1. Dark purple-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. Mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in having dark purple-colored flowers that are different from the medium pink-colored flowers of the female parent and from the medium violet-blue colored flowers of the male parent.

Of the many commercially available Sutera cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is MegaCopa Pink Shine ‘Balmecopine’, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balmecopine’ in at least the following characteristic: Plants of the new cultivar have a darker flower color than plants of ‘Balmecopine’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balmecoplum’. The plants were approximately 16-weeks old. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch containers for approximately 11 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Illinois. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balmecoplum’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balmecoplum’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2023 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Illinois.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 16-week-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Illinois in 4.5-inch containers for approximately 11 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 68° F. to 70° F. (20° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 60° F. to 65° F. (16° C. to 18° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘Balmecoplum’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection             coded SUT-1039-004, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Sutera cordata breeding selection             coded SUT-0906-001, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 3 weeks.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low growth vigor,             mounded-trailing growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 7.5 cm. Width: Approximately 44.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching increases basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 8.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, slightly flexible. Length:             Approximately 22.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Length of central internode: Approximately 2.5 cm. Texture:             Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             non-glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of young stems: 144A. Color of mature stems: 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 18. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to perpendicular to stem. Shape:             Ovate. Margin: Serrate, ciliate. Apex: Broadly acute. Base:             Rounded. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.1 cm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely pubescent.             Texture of lower surface: Sparsely pubescent on venation             only. Color of upper surface of young and mature foliage:             137A with indistinguishable venation. Color of lower surface             of young and mature foliage: Closest to 138A with venation             of 146D to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Width: Approximately             1.5 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color: 146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balmecoplum’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from early spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             6 to 9 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Simple, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 50. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 19.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:             Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 84D.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Appearance: Matte. Margin: Entire, slightly wavy. Apex:             Rounded. Length from tube: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous,             with sparsely pubescent base. Texture of lower surface:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first open: N82A with             an overlay of N81A at base. Color of lower surface when             first and fully open: N82C to N82D. Color of upper surface             when fully open: N82A to N82B.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely             pubescent at throat opening. Texture of outer surface:             Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of inner surface: NN155D with N25A and             21A at throat opening. Color of outer surface: NN155D with             an underlay of N25A.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Cupped. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 4.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Length: Approximately             7.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper             (inner) surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Texture of             lower (outer) surface: Moderately pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper and lower surfaces:             137A.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a mixture of             glandular and non-glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4,             didynamous, base adnate to corolla tube. Stamen length of             longer pair: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stamen length of shorter             pair: Approximately 8.0 mm. Filament length of fixed             portion: Approximately 6.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D.             Anther shape: Obovate. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 13C and NN155D at base. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 13B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Stigma             shape: Linear slightly arched, rounded apex. Stigma length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 145B. Style length:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Sutera has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named ‘Balmecoplum’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 